Arturo Gatti, Cover Boxer, Says He's Still Got Game

February 20, 2006|By -- Scott Jones

He's known in the boxing world as ``the human highlight reel.'' And with his appearance on the box cover of EA's ``Fight Night: Round 3'' -- along with his three-time opponent, Micky Ward of Lowell, Mass. -- Arturo Gatti finally gets some respect.

After losing his junior welterweight title last year to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Gatti moved up to the 147-pound weight class last month and promptly beat undefeated Thomas Damgaard in Atlantic City.

Gatti, once again, gave boxing fans a dramatic fight, breaking his right hand, then switching to southpaw and eventually stopping a bloodied Damgaard in the 11th round.

Q: What's it like seeing yourself on the cover of a video game?

A: Being on cover of a game is like making it in the world, you know? It's like making it in my sport. It took a long time.

Q: Does the ``Arturo Gatti'' in the ``Fight Night Round 3'' look like the real Arturo Gatti?

A: [Laughs] I think I look good, physically. The graphics are great. I think [EA] did a great job.

Q: At 33, why keep fighting?

A: I feel there's still so much there for me in boxing, especially when you've been knocked a couple times [by the critics]. People say he's finished, he's finished, and then I come back. I've got so much to prove to myself, to the boxing world. I've still got a couple years ahead of me, some great fights, great money fights. I think my best years are yet to come.

Q: Ever play video games?

A: Couple times. Pac-man and stuff. But when I play this game, I'll make sure I only play with a kid who's 5 years old or less. Because if they're any older than that, they're going to beat me.